Pubs of London Tea Towel

The public house is one of Britain's great institutions, with roots stretching back to Roman taverns selling wine and ale along the roadside. Alehouses, inns and taverns became known collectively as "public houses" — pubs, for short — around the reign of Henry VII, and by the late 16th century there were already tens of thousands scattered across England and Wales. London alone is now home to around 7,000 of them, a density unmatched by any other capital city in the world.

Many of the city's pubs carry histories stretching back centuries, some surviving the Great Fire of London, the Blitz, and everything in between. Their often curious names — Arms, Crowns, Swans and Stars among them — trace back to the days when pub-goers were largely illiterate and simply recognised the picture hanging outside, a tradition of painted signs that still lines London's streets today.

Featuring original artwork by Simon Privett, this tea towel brings a taste of that classic London pub culture into the kitchen, making it a lovely everyday piece for anyone who loves a good local, or a thoughtful gift for a Londoner at heart.

Size: 50 cm x 70 cm